Mizo villager shot at by Myanmar army on India-Myanmar border

A Mizo villager from Sabualtlang in Lawngtlai district was shot at by Myanmar army patrol on January 12, report from Lawngtlai district said.

The Mizo villager identified as Monondo, 67 and his wife were collecting local herb namely anchiri near the river on Indo-Myanmar border at Sihlui and the Myanmar army mistook them for rebels and shot at them.

Banati, the victim’s wife told Young Lai Association leaders that her husband was shot twice in the leg.

“I cried aloud conveying to the Myanmar army that we were not rebels and they stopped shooting, they came over and gave us some medicines, some food items and torch light and left,” Banati was quoted as saying by the Young Lai Association leaders.

Monondo was brought back to his village and was later moved to the district capital Lawngtlai. Sources from Lawngtlai Civil Hospital said that the victim was suffering from low blood pressure and had difficulty in breathing, which according to the medicos were signs of trauma. Sources said Monondo will have to be relocated to better hospital as soon as he recovers from the trauma.

The state government has already sent a team of police personnel to the scene and official sources said Assam Rifles forces from Bungtlang South are also combing the area where the incident occurred.

Sabualtlang village is located in 140 km from Lawngtlai township, Lawngtlai district in Mizoram. Sabualtlang and adjoining villages are the areas in southern Lawngtlai district where hundreds of Myanmar refugees have been taking shelter after a clash between Myanmar rebels and the Myanmar army in December last.

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